BODMER, WALTER

* 12.8.1903 Basel, † 3.6.1973

The Swiss graphic artist, painter and sculptor Walter Bodmer was born in Basel in 1903. In 1919 he completed his art classes at the Allgemeine Gewerbeschule (vocational school) in Basel. 19 years later he taught nude and head drawing as well as anatomical drawing at the same school. In addition to his teaching profession, Bodmer did not lose sight of his activity as an artist. He was co-founder of «Gruppe 33», which was launched in 1933 as an anti-fascist association of Basel artists. With the Swiss artists Otto Abt and Walter Kurt, he spent some time in Paris. Later he also travelled in the South of France and Spain. In 1956 the Solomon-R.-Guggenheim Foundation awarded him the National Prize for his work, and in 1968 he was presented with the Art Prize of the City of Basel. Numerous public institutions such as the museums of Basel, Zurich, Bern and St. Gallen as well as abroad, including Paris, Stuttgart and even Cambridge have his works in their collections. Bodmer died in 1973 at the age of 70.

In his artistic work Walter Bodmer avoided being categorised. Nevertheless, Constructivist influences as well as Surrealism can be recognised in his works. Painting formed the beginning of his creative work, from which he gradually passed into drawing and wire pictures. Thus, his range developed from the original two-dimensional plane and took on spatial properties. The initially floating constructions were taken over by massive sculptural works. The latter were dominated by clear geometric lines. Characteristic features are the elements of form that move along the simple elegant linear structure. Thus, his works are characterised by a dynamic composition which constantly offers the viewer a new perspective and is imbued with the precision of craftsmanship.